During a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, President Donald Trump floated the idea of federal oversight in Washington, DC, citing concerns about public safety. He also hinted that New York City could face a similar intervention if local leadership fails to control crime.
“We have tremendous power at the White House to run places when we have to,” Trump said. “We could run DC. We’re looking at it seriously. We want the capital city to be run flawlessly—we don’t want crime in D.C.”
While Trump offered few concrete details about how federal control would be implemented, he noted that his chief of staff, Susie Wiles, is “working very closely” with DC Mayor Muriel Bowser on various matters.
“We’ve had a good relationship with the mayor, and we’re testing it to see if it works,” Trump added.
Bowser Balances Crime and Cooperation
Mayor Bowser, a Democrat, has recently made efforts to build a working relationship with the Trump administration, especially as crime in Washington reached a 30-year low in 2024, according to the Metropolitan Police Department. Violent crime reportedly dropped 35% year over year, with homicides down 32% and robberies down 39%.
Despite the improved numbers, Trump appears unconvinced that local officials can maintain long-term stability. “We would run it so good,” he said of a potential federal takeover. “It would be run properly. Crime would be minimal—we’d get the best person to run it.”
Bowser has also engaged with the White House on development projects, including plans to redevelop the former RFK Stadium site into a new NFL stadium. She has also drawn criticism for removing the “Black Lives Matter” mural near the White House during Trump’s second term.
NYC in Trump’s Crosshairs
Trump also addressed rising concerns in New York City, using the moment to attack Democratic primary winner Zohran Mamdani, a progressive state lawmaker who recently won the party’s mayoral nomination.
“If a communist gets elected to run New York, it can never be the same,” Trump said. “But we have tremendous power. We’ll bring New York back. New York City will run properly.”
Federal Control or Political Posturing?
Trump’s remarks signal an aggressive tone toward Democratic-run cities, though constitutional and legal hurdles would make any federal takeover highly controversial—and possibly challenged in court. Still, the comments underscore his continued use of “law and order” rhetoric as a central message of his administration.
Whether his statements translate into action remains to be seen, but Trump made it clear: he’s willing to intervene directly if he feels cities aren’t being managed “properly.”
